 Brigadier (887), Chagrin Falls, Ohio, USA
Jan 13, 2007
750 ml bottle
I have been sitting on this for a special occasion. That happens to be the Louisville Cardinals as 2007 Orange Bowl champions. Nothing like a beer with a hint of oranges in it to celebrate the biggest victory in school history. Thanks to whomever sent me this in a trade - it proves that Alesmith is among the best brewers in the country.
Aroma / Appearance - The deep caramel body left a thin to nonexistant head. A clear stick lacing slid down the sides of the glasses leaving behind layers like beer strata. A combination of cherries, caramel, orange liquer, chocolate and honey form a very inviting nose with slightly sweet impression.
Flavor / Palate - Chocolate dipped cherries fill the mouth after the first sip. Next comes a blend of orange rinds, vanilla, honey and caramel. The mouthfeel is very dense but flat. A vinous aftertaste precedes a dry semisweet finish. Only towards the very end does the almost 11% ABV alcohol make itself known. Otherwise you could sip on this all night without noticing the effects.
Swolf3 (30), Elkton, Maryland, USA
Sep 2, 2008 Poured a dark brown color with not a lot of head. Smell was raspberry, chocolate, and a hint of fruits. taste was caramel, raspberry and yeast. Went down very smooth.
GMCC2181 (366), Bear, Delaware, USA
Sep 2, 2008 750ml Bottle shared by swolf3, thanks wolf. Muddy brown color, small head. Aroma of raison, dried fruit and yeasty. Taste is raison, raspberry, dried fruit, yeasty characteristics, chocolate and a little caramel. Very smooth. Average texture and carbonation. Good brew!
JCB (1009), Durham, North Carolina, USA
Aug 26, 2008 750ml from HiTime Wine. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve not had especially good luck with either the Horny Devil or the Grand Cru from Alesmith. Clearly the aim here is to produce a rich, wine-dark quad, and it’s clearly got the rich and complex aroma of that style. It’s complemented by some of the features of the original Decadence, too - toffee, chocolate, a hint of tobacco. But the problem I just can’t avoid is that it’s almost completely uncarbonated, resulting in a thin body that does the brew no service whatsoever. Still a very well crafted, complex, and flavorful beer, but not top shelf.
PaulHegedus (64), Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Aug 26, 2008 Bottle, vintage 2006. Opened August 2008. Wow, this thing is complex, has a surprisingly low carbonation. Aromas are not strong, but there’s some caramel and vanilla. The flavour is more like dark fruit, raisin, with maybe a bit of caramel. This reminds me quite strongly of Thomas Hardy’s barleywine. I will open a bottle and compare it soon! Was wonderful with a strong cocoa (86%?)dark chocolate bar!
grant (760), Martinez, California, USA
Aug 22, 2008 Shared by DYCSoccer17, thanks! Hazy garnet, light head formation. Bold aroma of caramel, dank hops, complex malts with dates and figs, ocean. Not many belgian yeast characteristics apparent in the aroma, but still delicious-smelling. Sweet, churled chocolatey flavor, vague background of estery yeastiness. Rounded malts, lightly toasty with some hazelnut. Finishes quite sweet and very smooth. It doesn’t seem very belgian-influenced to me but it is a very good beer.
|
